right now that post is being held by michael morrell. it wasn't a surprise he picked john kerry. we were surprised he announced that pick alone and without unveiling his entire defense team all at once. >> i would love to think of a million more questions to ask you because of the gorgeous backdrop but instead i will let you go to it. >> thanks, alex. mice to see you, too. >>> new today one congressman says prospects are gloomy for getting a deal done to avoid the fiscal cliff. we are just ten days away. >> i don't think they are very high. i think more likely scenario is that the rates will go up automatically on january 1. >> before leaving d.c. for hawaii, president obama said he met individually with the leaders of the house and senate. asking them to work towards a package that prevents a tax hike on the middle class. >> this is something within our capacity to solve. it doesn't take that much work. just have to do the right thing. call me a hopeless optimist. but i actually still think we can get it done. >> new today, house speaker john boehner delivering the weekly republ